We AIM to Please

Pastor Jimmy Johnston brought a great bunch of kids from Kentucky recently on an Ambassadors in Missions (AIM) team. Worship, sports clinics, games, and devotions were the order of the day. Our kids found the joy of the Lord in everything that they did. Local high schools also benefited from their ministry during morning devotions and wanted them to return.

The team painted the wall at the top of the property and inside the girls dorm as well. A registered nurse on the team stocked our shelves with medicines and advised our staff concerning normal childhood illnesses and boo-boos.

Thank you, Joe Girdler (KY district superintendent), Brian Neugent (KY district youth director), Pastor Jimmy, and everyone for a great week in Jamaica.

Check out the web album and videos of the team in the right-hand column.

Speed the Light of the Gospel

Everywhere, is the Speed the Light theme for 2007-2008. Speed the Light (STL) is the Assemblies of God, student-initiated program that raises funds to provide equipment and vehicles to missionaries so that we can speed the light of the gospel to a world in darkness.

As missionaries, we have gone everywhere in Jamaica with our STL vehicle. Although we live on an island that is about the size of Connecticut, Jamaica’s terrain proves challenging; a 50-mile trek through the mountains can take over 2 hours to travel. We use our STL vehicle to take the New Vision children to school, the hospital, doctor’s appointments, field trips, and other special outings. We are grateful to the Indiana District youth who personally sacrificed and helped raise funds for this necessary means of transportation.

Thankfully, New Vision City of Refuge has been approved to receive a STL, 15-passenger seat van. Anyone who has visited us knows how desperately New Vision City of Refuge needs this vehicle. Unfortunately the needed funds are not yet available (New Vision has been waiting 2 years).

We are not alone in our wait; many missionaries are facing the same dilemma. Please, help speed the light to a world in darkness. Talk to your pastor or youth pastor today to see how you can give. Visit Speed the Light on the web at http://speedthelight.ag.org/.

New Vision City of Refuge STL project number: F27379

We have the Victory

A wonderful team from Victory Christian Center, Terre Haute, Indiana visited New Vision City of Refuge this past week. Pastor Dana Coverstone and his youth pastor Shawn Riggs are shown here refereeing Bible Quiz. The Buzz Box was a gift from the church and a big hit with the kids.

This versatile team hosted an excellent Children and Youth Worker Training seminar at our local assembly. They imparted vision and taught about prayer, object lessons, puppets, and Bible Quiz. Keilah (Dana and Jennifer Coverstone's 10 year old daughter) took on the Assemblies of God Bible College in a Bible Quiz showdown. Everyone was impressed with Keilah's expertise. Each church in attendance happily received a Bible Quiz Fact Pack and an instruction booklet, complements of Victory Christian Assembly.

Two licensed child therapists on the team encouraged and enlightened our staff about the special needs of our kids. Pastor Dana also presented a very generous check to finish the first floor of the new boys dorm. Thanks, Victory Christian for a great week!

Pictures and video of the team are available under the Photo Album heading in the right-hand column.

Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
All creation joins to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

http://media.songsandhymns.org/mp3/ChristTheLordIsRisenToday.mp3

The Road to Emmaus

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of two disheartened friends traveling on the road to Emmaus. A stranger greets them on the way and compassionately inquires about their troubles. The disciples speak to him about Jesus and his untimely death. “But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they inform the traveler, dejectedly.

But we had hoped. It is what we all say on the road to Emmaus when life interrupts our plans. In our walk with the Lord, we have certain expectations, and when they are not met, we become disillusioned.

The Jews expected a triumphant Messiah, one who would usher in the Kingdom, and free them from foreign rule. What they got was a crucified would-be Christ (so they thought), and Rome was still in power. But we had hoped.

A word of advice for Emmaus-bound travelers, do not walk alone. Remember, there were two disciples traveling on the road that day. “Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ,” the apostle declares. Do not travel alone, disciples and do not let others walk alone either. Troubled travelers may not feel God–but they will feel your presence as you walk with them on the road to Emmaus.

A word of encouragement, sojourners to Emmaus, you do not walk alone. Jesus joins you in your travels. Although the Lord’s felt presence might elude you, he is closer than you think. Our despairing disciples did not expect Jesus to die, but neither did they expect to meet him on the road to Emmaus.

Lastly, enlightenment awaits you at journey’s end. Reaching Emmaus, the disciples encourage the stranger to remain, and he accepts their invitation. The visitor joins them at their table, and gives thanks for the bread. After he breaks it, he presents it to them and “then their eyes were opened, and they recognized [the risen Christ].” On the road to Emmaus, we often do not understand why we had to travel that way. However, God makes himself known to us in a way we would never have known before had we not traveled on the road to Emmaus.

After recognizing Jesus, the disciples hurried back to Jerusalem to testify, "It is true! The Lord has risen."

He is risen, indeed.

Sports Day

Relay competitions and potato races pitted the red team against the yellow team at New City of Refuge sports day. View photos of this fun filled event under the albums section in the right-hand column.

Happy Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday and I am reminiscing about my great grandmother. Christened Almirinda Proscino, my great grandmother was born in the United States but returned to Italy as a young girl with her parents. Later in life, she married my great grandfather, Ciro Fiondella, boarded a ship to cross the Atlantic, and returned to her birthplace. (I never thought about it before, but my nonni (nawn-nee) was a TCK –a Third Culture Kid. That is, a child who grows up in a country that is not their passport country, like a Missionary Kid.) In Hamden, Connecticut, the Fiondella family raised their five children, one of which was my grandfather, George (my mother Carol’s father).

I remember Nonni today on Palm Sunday because we celebrated the holiday at her home each year. Palm Sunday in Connecticut is celebrated like nowhere else that I have lived (Florida, Indiana, Jamaica). I don’t know if it’s an Italian thing, a Catholic thing, or a New England thing, but Palm Sunday in Hamden was special.

Our large extended family arrived at Nonni’s abode after church on Palm Sunday. It’s difficult to describe how many people descended upon her humble home, think ala My Big Fat Greek Wedding and you’ll get the picture. Nonni had a huge garden in her backyard (huge from my childhood perspective anyway) where she grew eggplant, squash, tomatoes, etc. A trellis of grapes framed her back entrance, and wine fermented in the cellar (Communal wine, I’m sure).

The din of chatter, and laughter, greeted you at the door, and with the melody of All Glory, Laud, and Honor still ringing in your ears, strips of palms were fashioned into crosses and exchanged with loved ones. The smell of delectable treats tempted your taste buds. On Palm Sunday you had your choice of tea, coffee, soda, and assorted homemade delights: anginetti, angel wings, pignolli, ricotta pie, cannoli (oh, how I miss the food from my hometown). But it was the love that oozed out of every crevice of my great grandmother's being and home that I remember most. It was in every hug, in every kiss, in every tin of cookies, and in every dollar bill secretly crunched into your hand.

In many churches, Palm Sunday is a second-rate holiday, a precursor to Easter and not much more. But to me Palm Sunday is special. So wave your palms, give thanks to the Christ who rode triumphantly into the city, and bless your family on this special day.

Happy Palm Sunday.

Oink

Our sow had pigs last night and then promptly died. I guess the thought of raising 9 piglets was too much for her. So, here we are feeding our little orphan pigs. But where will they sleep tonight? I suggested they would feel at home in the teen-boys room.

Check out the link to the photo album and video in the right-hand column.

Amazing Grace

In this scene from Amazing Grace, William Wilberforce exposes the ugly reality of the slave trade to the members of Parliment and their wives, and at the same time gives us a glimpse into Jamaican history.

Lenten Lands

“What are you giving up?” I heard that phrase every year while growing up in New England, in anticipation of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. Lent is the observance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting, in preparation for his earthly ministry. Christians choose to give up or fast something during this time to identify with Jesus’ humility and suffering. I may not have understood all the nuances of Lent as a child but the practice has stayed with me all these years.

Although a Christian can fast at any time, Lent is an occasion when we as the Body of Christ fast together to prepare for the holiest day on the Christian calendar. Fasting is the act of refraining from a particular food or activity to feast on the Lord. There are many forms fasting can take; the Daniel fast (no meat), the chocolate fast (no sweets), or the TV fast (no trash). Most fasts are deliberate and intentional but some are not.

In Jamaica, some American foods are not available, like brown sugar. Jamaica has raw sugar (which they call brown sugar) but they do not have the kind you need to make chocolate chip cookies(!). We had been in Jamaica for over a year before I was able to make apple crisp (a family favorite). I had forgotten how good the simple dessert was and was amazed at the taste sensation when I finally had that first bite. Fasting helped me to appreciate the gift of brown sugar.

Lest you think giving up something for Lent is like making a New Year’s resolution; it is not. Most resolutions take the form of giving up something for good for the purpose of self-improvement but fasting is giving up something for a time for soul-improvement. Through this period of self-denial, we learn to identify with the Lord and appreciate his provision.

During this season of Lent, I pose a challenge: while you are giving up for God, pray the children at New Vision City of Refuge would give in to him. Pray for others to understand what true religion is and become sponsors. Lastly, pray for the local church in Jamaica to continue to give to their orphans through the ministry of the City of Refuge.

Pressing through, in these Lenten lands.